Rigid Air Barriers

Q: How thick should an air barrier be?

A rigid air barrier is usually around 6mm thick in New Zealand. While there are barriers that are thinner than this, it’s not always advisable to pick something thinner since it might not be as effective as you’d want it to be. The problem with the thicker ones is that they tend to get heavier making installation more difficult.

Q: Where can an air barrier be placed?

Rigid air barriers are versatile when it comes to their placement. These barriers can be placed outside the construction site to envelop it, inside the site as a barrier, or in between the walls too. It all depends on what stage of construction you’re at and the needs of your project.

When you need to control air movement around a space during construction, a rigid air barrier comes in handy. These sheets are made with different materials but used for the same purpose, which is to create a pressure-equalised cladding system to produce weather-resistant facades. ArchiPro features only the best rigid air barriers in New Zealand to protect your construction projects.

Thermoseal Heavy Duty Perforated Facing

CSR Bradford Insulation

Featuring the best rigid air barriers in New Zealand

Rigid air barriers work well not only to protect against air penetration but also water leakage. If there’s no air that can escape the space, water certainly won’t be able to seep through. This is an effective way to prevent water leakages in walls when laying foundations for a new building. ArchiPro features only the best rigid air barriers in New Zealand as part of a wider collection of high-quality structural and framing products.

Types of rigid air barriers

There are various kinds of barrier sheets available in New Zealand, each with its own traits and uses.

Barrier wall boards

Designed to withstand high wind zones, these are moisture resistant and work well to insulate a space too. This type of barrier is often used in residential and multi-storey constructions.

Traditional rigid air barriers

These fibre cement panels are the perfect barrier to withstand all weather conditions. They’re created using the embedded micro-water-block technology to repel water.

Structural plywood rigid air barriers

If you're looking for temporary solutions for weather protection during the construction of a building, then this plywood barrier is just what you need. It's easy to install, effective and affordable.

The advantages of high-quality rigid air barriers

Air barriers are used to prevent air from penetrating through a building construction site and the higher quality the product, the more effective they’ll be at doing this. The more you’re able to prevent any external weather from interfering with the construction process, the more time and money you’ll save. High-quality products will have a proven track record in New Zealand conditions, making them fit for purpose and something you can rely on all year round.

How to choose a rigid air barrier that's right for you

Like many products in this area, a rigid air barrier requires some industry knowledge in order to best determine what type is most appropriate for any given situation. That being the case, it’s recommended that you discuss the options in detail with the professional supplier who will assess the situation and make specific recommendations based on what you’ve described. Choosing a reputable supplier, like those featured on ArchiPro, is therefore the most important decision when it comes to selecting the right products.

What are the limitations of a rigid air barrier?

A rigid air barrier, as the name suggests, is rigid which means you can’t move it around to accommodate the space. You’ll need to invest in multiple barriers to get complete protection and this could get a little tricky around the corners. However, with the help of professionals, you’ll be able to get them fitted well.